02/25/2001 - The anticipation is killing
me! Here we are, now into the last week of February, and I'm just
dying to rake off the four to six inches of pine needles I spread over the
entire bog for the winter. I've 'peeked' a couple of times and things
appear well under control. D. filiformis is already uncurling little
green shoots, but is still well covered by mulch. Venus Flytraps appear
to be OK as well. This winter was very dry and much colder than last
winter. Still much milder than the worst we can expect, we did experience
lows near 20 many nights but never once failed to warm into at least the mid
thirties. We received no snow or freezing rain whatsoever. Now,
it's not entirely unheard of to receive one last winter's blast in the first
week or two of March, but, all in all, I think we're home free.

According to last year's records, I should begin seeing blooms emerging
in the next week or so. I'll need to be very careful removing the
mulch. I'll need to start the pump in a few weeks as well. The
big pump in the pond burnt out over the winter. I'll need to make sure
I get the algae cleaned out of the bog pump before I fire it up. I
had to replace the pump timer because the christmas lights on the house burnt
it up. So, here we go...!

03/17/2001 - Began removing mulch today.
Venus Flytraps have started sprouting - four to six traps per plant so far!
S. oreophila sent up numerous phyllodia while mulched. All of the S.
flava have flower buds on them. D. binata and filliformis seem to be
doing just fine. I haven't found the pings yet. I'll be pleasantly
surprised if they survived. I'll finish unearthing the rest probably
tomorrow.

03/26/2001 - New blooms emerging!
So far two of the three plants that bloomed last year have already sent
up blooms. There is no activity showing on S. purpurea venosa.
Last year at this time it had a bloom and one small pitcher showing.
There may be some lag this year due to the plants being out of doors rather
than in a green house for the winter. New bloomers this year include
S. oreophila, S. flava 'Red Throat' and S. rubra wherryii. There may
be more over the next few weeks.

Oh! Other goood news includes the butterworts (Pinguicula grandiflora)
that didn't do much last year, are sending up bright green new leaves.
It's quite exciting. VFTs appear to be doing well -- lots of new traps.
Plants on the wet side of the bog are not doing as well as those on the dry
side. I may have lost two or three big ones. If they survive,
I'll move them. In other words, they need to come up so I can find them
to move them.

Drosera all seem to be doing fine. D. filliformis filliformis
may have gotten nipped by the frost a bit, but the rest seem to be doing
quite fine. One D. binata 'T-form' hasn't showed signs of life yet.
Some D. rotundifolia have already put out full sticky leaves. Kind
of odd since there won't be bugs out for several more weeks.

I'm more than a little concerned about the volume of slugs and earthworms
that may have drowned in the reservoir over the winter. The water
smells BAD. Well, not so strong that you can smell it around the yard,
but if you stick your nose down near the water you get a distinct whiff of
a sulphorous odor. I've thought about siphoning off a bunch of the water,
but we've had such a dry winter I'm afraid I'd end up needing to invest in
40 gallons of distilled water to refill the hole.

04/20/2001 - This year's crop is way
behind last year. We continue to have chilly nights with lows in the
low 30's and occasional frost. Daytime temperatures seldom rise above
the mid 50's. Even so, 6 of the Sarracenia are exhibiting bloom buds,
compared with three last year. Numbers of pitchers are up as well, though
in most cases only a fraction of the size they were last year. We
are rapidly approaching the last possible day of frost here (04/30), so I'm
hopeful things will turn around soon.

I'm reporting on several new plants this year. I purchased the
S. oreophila in mid June last year. So far, it appears to be the most
robust plant in the garden. I didn't report on the pings last year because
they went dormant almost immediately after I planted them in April, and I
figured they wouldn't make it. They have just exploded this spring
and their little purple blooms are spectacular! I picked up S. alata
x minor at a local nursery. I felt sorry for it, all dried up, crying
for sunshine in the shaded greenhouse. So, I bright it home and it
immediately put up one new pitcher. I probably would have resisted the
temptation (see introduction to my carnivorous garden) except the pitchers
so much resembled a plain S. minor. My S. minor appears to be none too
healthy, so this plant is an acceptable substitute.

Next project is to clean out the water lines and start the pump.
Lots of algae has accumulated in the plastic lines. I'll probably inject
them with bleach, let them soak for a few minutes, and capture the first
few ounces of water that circulates. I'm thinking about chlorinating
the reservoir on a regular basis to keep the algae under control. Advice
from experts seems to confirm that the plants will probably receive less impact
from the chlorine than decomposing algae.

04/26/2001 - It Lives! S. minor
is alive! Last season's initial appearance didn't occur until the
18th of June. Here we are, a month and a half ahead of schedule, while everything
else is much slower than last year. This further confirms my suspicion
that these plants are rather sensitive to transplantation, and require a recovery
period prior to resuming full production. I wonder if this is related
to bare root vs. potted planting. My plants were all shipped bagged,
cleaned of all dirt. They were re-planted within 48-72 hours of being
removed from their nursery origins. The S. oreophila I purchased potted
last summer seems to be responding with vigor this spring, including a large
bloom bud.

05/21/2001 - This is a whole lot of
fun. 85 degrees today, and the plants are just loving it. All
the blooms are gone off the pings. Looks like I may get some seed.
They are spreading like mad. I'll break up the clump as soon as they
go dormant again. I'll bet I get 20 or more plants. I went to
the store and picked up a 4x magnifier so I could see what else is growing.
I have discovered a virtual carpet of tiny, unbelievably small sundew seedlings.
At their current size it's impossible for me to tell what species are represented.
They all look like miniature D. rotundifolia with only two leaves.
The total span of the first seedling I discovered was about 3/32 of an inch.
Now, I'd guess there are a hundred plants coming up. The largest are now
as much as 1/8" inch across. Since all three of my sundew species bloomed
simultaneously last summer, there's no telling what might appear. Imagine
a 6 inch filliformis leaf with a half-inch round pad at the end. Or
a binata with 10 inch "T"'s!

S. flava 'Copperlid' is in full bloom now. The bloom head is
almost as big as a baseball, with 3.5 inch petals hanging down. It
is most impressive. S. flava 'typical' is blooming nicely, but the
stalk is significantly shorter. I will do another measurement later
this week and make some comparisons with last year's data. I'm curious
to see if we've caught up yet. The Venus Flytraps are finally getting
in gear. They haven't appreciated the cool nights. We were still having
low temperatures in the mid 30's as recently as last week. I can't remember
a spring so cool. Today has certainly made up for it, and it's not
cooling off this evening, either. The air is quite dry and breezy,
though. I'm predicting a hot, dry summer.

05/30/2001 - We're having fun now! S. flava and S. oreophila
are leading the show, with Judith Hindle and S. leucophyla coming right along.
S. purpurea venosa is probably done for. The S. flava "Copperlid" is
quite striking. S. oreophila eagerly takes on prey that is maybe a
bit much. I found two pitchers laying flat on the ground, chewed open
from the inside. I believe carpenter ants may be the culprits.
OK, so I admit I fed one of the pitchers an ant the evening before.
It must have made the ant so angry that it went after another pitcher, so
it's probably all my fault. The picture on the right displays the damage...

The blooms range from interesting to almost pretty. The S. flava
"Copperlid" bloom was bigger than a baseball. It's just about done
now. The S. purpurea venosa "Burkei" is potentially the 'prettiest'
bloom, but is a little distorted this year. S. rubra wherryii has interestingly
shaped petals. They're a little more interesting than the drooping strips
hanging out of the S. flava. The S. oreophila petals are much shorter
and stick out almost horizontally.

I'm pleased, for the most part. Almost everything is on a par
with last year at this time, and in several cases, already ahead of the end
of last season. I think my second pump timer has burnt out, so I'm
going to be looking for something a little more substantial. I'm planning
on replacing the Darlingtonia very soon, but I haven't decided what yet.
Maybe a collection of showy hybrids...

08/03/2001 - Just because the updates
are coming in farther apart than last year doesn't mean we're having any
less fun! A side-by-side comparison with last year's data reveals almost
everything doing better, and in some cases spectacularly better. I've
been watering the bog entirely with tap water this year. So far, there
seems to be no symptoms that I can identify. The S. alata that is so
terribly distorted could be having aphid problems, but I'm not sure.
I'll probably do one more update and a few more photos before I wind things
up for this year...

09/29/2001 - Weeds, I tell you, they're
all weeds. I never imagined the day when I'd run over five or six
sundew plants with the wheel of my lawnmower and just say "Oh, well...".
That day is here. D. filliformis filliformis is a carnivorous menace
of unparalleled proportions. OK, so it's my fault for spreading the
seeds over my entire bog area. I will never do that again, I promise.
I am now the 'proud' cultivator of more than a hundred 'little' six inch
tall seedlings. Is anyone aware of health issues associated with coating
one's hands with sundew slime? Yesterday I needed to weed my bog.
It seems to grow birch tree seedlings, thistles and grass. In the process
I completely covered both hands with sun-dew. It was kind of disgusting,
but it seemed to dry rapidly. Then I washed my hands under a hose before
entering the house. That stuff would not wash off. It seemed
to succumb easily to soap, however.

Otherwise, I'm very pleased with my bog this season. We could
see our first frost any time between now and mid November. Almost without
exception, plants that survived the start of this season are significantly
more robust than they were last year. I may begin to experience crowding
by next season. Already the leaning pitchers are tangling with other
plants and making it difficult to make these periodic assessments.
The S. alata aphid problems have eased since the removal of the seriously
infested lupines. Next year I'm spreading Ping seeds rather than Drosera.
I don't mind D. rotundifolia as much. They're cute little low growing
plants. How did I get back on that subject? Geeez, those things
are pervasive. Anyway, I'm pleased! What can I say...

02/25/2001 Last year's pitchers still mostly intact and in good
health.04/20/2001 I trimmed off last years pitchers a week ago.
New pitchers are emerging from 7 growth buds. 2 flower buds
are now showing, with possibility of at least 2 more.05/04/2001 4" bloom, 2" pitchers05/30/2001 10 pitchers, 5", open bloom is 12". 2nd bud stopped
growing at 2" and is no longer developing.08/03/2001 Plant is now 14" in diameter and 6.5" tall09/29/2001 There are about 40 pitchers jammed together in one
carnivorous gaping maw... Twice as big as last year.

02/25/2001 dormant03/17/2001 4 - 6 new traps.04/20/2001 6 plants, five or six traps per05/04/2001 doing fine...05/30/2001 1.25" traps, eating heartily.08/03/2001 seem to be highly sensitive to moisture. Only
two plants thrive, but they are doing marvelously with 10-13 active 1 inch
traps per plant.09/29/2001 continuing to thrive - masses of traps with legs
sticking out in every direction. Much more healthy than last year.

9. Sarracenia minor

02/25/2001 dead or dormant04/25/2001 it lives! 3 pitchers, .5 inch.05/04/2001 2, 3/8" pitchers05/30/2001 12 pitchers, largest is 3". They just look
like broad blades of grass08/03/2001 9 pitchers remain, 4.24 inches tall, max.09/29/2001 Sent up another five or six small pitchers.
This one continues to struggle

10. Sarracenia psittacina

02/25/2001 appears to be quite healthy under mulch 04/20/2001 still appears healthy, no new growth yet...05/04/2001 1.5" pitcher08/03/2001 largest pitchers are 4.5 inches, with dozens of smaller
ones.09/29/2001 30-40 small pitchers. 5 or 6 are as much as
5 inches long.

11. S. purpurea venosa 'Carolina'

02/25/2001 mostly dormant 05/04/2001 a single 3/4" pitcher05/30/2001 no change. I think this one is gone...08/03/2001 gonners....

12. Drosera rotundifolia

02/25/2001 dormant 04/20/2001 hmmm... Last year's biggest performer looks
a bit weak this year. Several others doing well...05/30/2001 several plants, all healthy...08/03/2001 seedlings coming up all over the place. Last
year's plants did not do as well, but I'm hoping the seedlings will establish
themselves in a more compatible environment.09/29/2001 dozens...

13. Dionaea miscipula - Akai Ryu, Red Dragon

02/25/2001 dormant03/17/2001 6 new baby traps05/04/2001 plant on wet side of the bog died...05/30/2001 doing OK, though not as wall as the green ones.
Surprisingly lacking in red color. Kind of a muddy green color.08/03/2001 There are probably 15 very small and densely packed
traps. Probably too dry. The other plant rotted, I believe.09/29/2001 doing a little better. Traps are still
densely packed but a little larger. Color is still not very red.

14. Drosera filiformis filiformis

02/25/2001 about a half inch tall already, covered with mulch. 03/17/2001 some leaves as much as an inch long already04/20/2001 plant clump 3 inches across, leaves 2 inches high
now05/04/2001 up 4 inches now...05/30/2001 8.5 inches tall with many more leaves still uncoiling.08/03/2001 Main plant is doing well. Seedlings are coming
up like a lawn over a very large area of the bog.09/29/2001 weeds, I tell you, they're all weeds...

15. Drosera binata - 'T' form

02/25/2001 3/8 of an inch of white new growth under mulch.04/20/2001 1 of last year's clumps disappeared. Three
others doing well05/04/2001 5.5" tall plants. Lots of dividing possible
for next season05/30/2001 Largest plant is now 7" tall. Tallest bloom stalk
is 8" tall.08/03/2001 Plant itself is now 9" tall. Bloom stalk with
dozens of white blossoms now stands at 20"!09/29/2001 doing well... seem to be slowing down as a result
of clipping the bloom stalk.

16. Sarracenia rubra wherryii

02/25/2001 dormant03/26/2001 bloom bud just emerging. Several tiny pitchers04/20/2001 bloom now 1.5 inches tall. 3 or 4 half inche
pitchers.05/04/2001 4.5" bloom, 2" pitcher05/30/2001 two blooms, tallest one is open at 8". There
are a total of 9 pitchers, up to 7 inches tall.08/03/2001 15 pitchers + phyllodia, 9" tall.09/29/2001 20 pitchers, 10" tall - These plants went almost
unnoticed last season. Now they're rather attractive.

02/25/2001 still showing signs of life, though no live pitchers 05/04/2001 officially dead.

19. Sarracenia oreophila

02/25/2001 dormant 02/26/2001 large bloom bud emerging04/20/2001 10, 3 inch pitchers, bloom stalk now 3.5 inches05/04/2001 Amazingly vigorous plant - 6" bloom with 13 pitchers
up to 9" tall!05/30/2001 The bloom opened at 8.5". Tallest of the 13
pitchers is now 16.5 inches tall!08/03/2001 13 pitchers + numerous phyllodia. Tallest pitcher
is 16" tall.09/29/2001 Most of the pitchers are gone now. They phyllodia
twist around each other like a ball of snakes.

20. Sarracenia x Judith Hindle

02/25/2001 a few frostbit pitchers, otherwise in fine shape. 04/20/2001 10-15, 1.5 inch pitchers05/04/2001 20 3.5" pitchers05/30/2001 at least 20 pitchers, now opening at 10".08/03/2001 2 or 3 dozen pitchers, up to 14" tall.09/29/2001 about the same. Definitely larger than last
year. Pitchers seem a little uneven in size - lots of smaller ones
with three or four really nice big ones.

21. Pinguicula Grandiflora

04/20/2001 5 plants, 4 blooming, two with 2 open flowers each,
one with 2 more buds in addition to open blooms.05/04/2001 12 plants (near as I can tell) with at least as many
flowers.05/30/2001 all developing seed pods.08/03/2001 I spread the seeds around, and I believe I've spotted
5 or 6 microscopic seedlings emerging!09/29/2001 There are now at least 20 confirmed seedlings!
This is really cool!

22. Sarracenia alata x minor

04/20/2001 4 pitchers, 1.5 inches05/04/2001 7 4" pitchers.05/30/2001 8 pitchers, opening at 10.5"08/03/2001 this one just took off! 13 pitchers, 16.5" tall!09/29/2001 an attractive plant. Still putting out pitchers,
though they don't last long.